Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes: The big leap, too early?

On Friday, September 30th in Monza, Andrea Kimi Antonelli climbs into George Russell's car for the first free practice session of the weekend. The rumor has already spread, he himself is aware, it is no longer a secret to anyone: he will replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025. With this certainty, he sets off behind the wheel of the Mercedes W15 for an hour of driving session, and above all, learning. However, barely ten minutes later, everything is already over: the 18-year-old Italian youngster crashes his single-seater into the wall after losing control in the Parabolica. Result: a wasted session and a multitude of criticisms regarding his ability to evolve in Formula 1. However, the die is already cast: the next morning, around nine o'clock, the native of Bologna is announced as George Russell's teammate for 2025.

Since then, the Formula 1 sphere remains divided regarding Toto Wolff's choice, even though the latter explains having made his decision within five minutes after Lewis Hamilton announced his departure to Ferrari. Yet, Mercedes had the choice among drivers looking for a seat, some more experienced than others, like Carlos Sainz. The decision to appoint Kimi Antonelli is one for youth, but isn't it too early?

The never-ending debate on youth

Many Formula 1 drivers have arrived young, sometimes very young. However, the difference with Andrea Kimi Antonelli is that these drivers often went through second-tier teams to continue their learning. Max Verstappen, who broke all conventions by arriving in Formula 1 at 17, spent a year at Toro Rosso. Even the most talented drivers on the grid went through this stage: Russell at Williams or Leclerc at Alfa Romeo. Few are those who arrived directly in a top team, and also at such a young age. Lewis Hamilton could be mentioned in this category, but he was 21 when he joined McLaren in 2007, not 18 like the one who will replace him next year. He also had several seasons in lower categories, which is not the case for Kimi Antonelli.

The debate about youth in Formula 1 remains endless and as long as Kimi Antonelli is not behind the wheel of the Mercedes to prove himself, criticism and apprehensions will continue to flow. Especially since he will be joining a top team, alongside an experienced and determined driver. It won't be easy for the Italian, who will have the heavy task of learning while performing as much as possible to help Mercedes in its fight against other top teams.

The best choice for Mercedes?

Did the team make the right choice by deciding to start Kimi Antonelli? By rejecting Carlos Sainz and other drivers, Mercedes has therefore chosen to prioritize its academy, of which Kimi Antonelli is a part. Mercedes also takes a gamble on a very young driver, inexperienced in Formula 1, but who relies on impressive results in lower categories: winner of both the Italian and German F4 championships in the same year, and then of FRECA in 2023. Certainly, even if his F2 season in 2024 is below expectations, Antonelli remains a raw diamond who impresses with his precocity.

Mercedes' choice to put him directly in the seat instead of Lewis Hamilton is not insignificant. 2025 is a transitional year before the new regulation of 2026. The German team has every interest in familiarizing its young talent with the single-seater, with Toto Wolff describing him as the future of the team. Furthermore, Mercedes didn't really have the choice to place him in another team: Williams was already full and Audi had not retained Antonelli among its potential future drivers. The solution for Mercedes would have been to let him wait for an additional season in F2. However, this would have involved choosing a full-time driver for just one year, a complicated and hardly acceptable contract for a driver given the little guarantee for the future. Toto Wolff has made Antonelli the future of the German firm for several months and has never contradicted his own choice. Putting him immediately in the seat is also a way to prevent him from being stolen. Alpine had delayed in giving Oscar Piastri a full-time seat. As a result, the latter had signed with McLaren. Mercedes has been training its young driver for a few years and has logically continued his career by giving him the seat occupied by Lewis Hamilton since 2013.

However, for Mercedes, who praises Antonelli's talent, this remains a huge challenge: they will only be able to rely on Russell's experience in 2025. With a view to developing the car for 2026, having a learning driver who must first understand Formula 1 before being able to fully help at the factory represents a great risk. Nevertheless, Antonelli's promotion marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new era, one of a team that has taken a gamble on youth.